Chapter 68 - Mongoose Sleepover

Louis didn't realize it, but about an hour had passed during his conversation with Pina. However, during that time Kai and Legosi had stayed pretty much quiet, only now Kai was leaning slightly into Legosi as he typed away at his laptop.

This made the buck grin. Animals, connections, friendships. It really was beautiful how life worked that way. How you can go from being a stranger to leaning against someone and making a website for them. How you can go from disliking someone to wanting to protect them and hold them. How you can go from always being angry at someone to being married to them. It just fascinated him.

Kai looked up at Legosi. "Hey, you can draw, right? Instead of me finding all this generic clipart maybe you could draw some bugs? Have you done digital art before?"

Legosi blinked and shook his head, as it was obvious he had been spacing out. "Oh...not much."

"I think you should try it."

The deer spoke up. "That might show your boss some real dedication."

Legosi looked up and his ears twitched before he smiled. "Oh, yeah! Probably." He scooted over on the couch, subtly inviting Louis to sit.

His husband obviously couldn't resist, quickly coming over. "Should I look or wait until the end to keep it a surprise?"

Kai snorted. "It's not gonna be done tonight, especially if Legosi is gonna draw stuff."

"Oh, should I get my laptop out?" the wolf asked.

The mongoose nodded. "Yeah, sure."

"Do you remember where your mouse is?" asked Louis.

"Oh, Jack got me a drawing tablet, but I never really had time to use it." Legosi got up and went to dig through their boxes.

"Oh, right, you mentioned it," Louis chuckled. "Also, we spend hours cuddling. You could use some of that time…"

Legosi fished out his laptop and plugged it in as well as the tablet. "I have everything installed thankfully. I'm just not used to drawing on something that's not paper."

Kai looked up at the hardware. "Well, whatever you come up with will be better than what I can do."

Louis leaned against his wolf. "Does your arm still have room to move? Oh, you know what, I should make us all some of that hot chocolate I bought this weekend. After you boys work, maybe then a movie wrapped in a blanket?"

Kai cocked an eyebrow. "Hot chocolate...in the summer."

"I can turn the AC down."

"But that'd make it hotter!"

"Oh. I meant up. Wait...if the temperature is going down..." Louis tapped his chin.

Kai sat up straighter. "No, if the AC is going down, that means it's working at a lower capacity, and the temperature would go up."

Legosi was busy setting up his computer as this went on.

"No, but if I turn the temperature down, it would get colder..." Louis responded.

"Oh, no, no, no, you said AC! Not temperature!"

"Are you serious? Legosi knew what I meant. Right, hon?"

The wolf looked up, ears twitching. "Oh, uh, wuh? Huh?"

"About the air conditioner!"

"Oh? I think it's nice. Maybe make it a bit colder."

The deer got up and quickly did so, then set out making the hot chocolate. "I wonder what kind of movie we should watch..."

"Whatever you guys wanna watch is fine with me," Kai said, turning back to his work. Legosi pulled his tablet out and was trying to get in a comfortable position with his large body.

Louis came back when the chocolate was cooking, kissing his wolf's cheek three, four, five times. "What do you think he'd like?"

"Science fiction," the wolf said without much hesitation.

"Sure," the mongoose conceded. "Wait, can Legosi even have hot chocolate?"

"They've invented some sort of chocolate that's safe for canines. It's not real chocolate. The brand is literally called 'K-9'. A K and a 9. The logo is even a wolf."

"Oh, cool."

Meanwhile, Legosi navigated to the drawing program on his computer and opened it.

"Science fiction..." Louis muttered. "Not my favorite genre...but I suppose one must make sacrifices."

"Legosi said it, not me," Kai mumbled. "Just watch what you guys wanna watch."

Legosi brought the pen down to the tablet and drew a line. Ctrl+Z. He drew another. Ctrl+Z.

"You're our guest," Louis continued. "It's fine. What kind of sci-fi?"

"Uh, like, psychological stuff. It's cool..."

"Horror can be psychological."

"Horror can be sci-fi, too."

"Is there a combination of both...?"

"Sure there is."

Legosi had moved onto drawing basic shapes while the two were talking.

"Alright, tell me then."

"Um, there's a cool movie called Derelict about a crew of rescuers going to an abandoned space station," Kai explained.

"Have you seen it?" Louis asked.

"Uh, yeah. It's one of my favorites."

"Then what's the point!"

"Then you pick the movie! I literally don't care!"

"I was just trying to please the guest..." Louis mumbled.

"I'm fine with whatever you guys watch, honestly. I'm just glad you're letting me stay over."

Louis gave up with a smile. "Of course. We're glad to have you. How has everything been?"

Kai looked away, his ear twitching. "Uh, alright, I guess. The club is slowly getting some attention. I get to see Dom in a few weeks..."

"How many, exactly?"

"Well, when his summer break starts in July. We'll be able to go to the Meteor Festival."

"Really? Legosi and I are going to the Meteor Festival as well. We don't really believe in the superstition behind it, but we plan to light a candle for our own reasons. As a symbol of our marriage and love and the protection of one another."

Kai turned to face Louis. "Oh, don't get me wrong! I think the concept behind it is stupid! It'll be nice to spend time with him, though."

"You could light a candle for your own reasons as well," Louis suggested.

"Yeah..." Kai looked back at the computer screen. "Like...something..."

"Love is as good a reason as any."

Beside them, Legosi grunted in frustration. "This is hard..." Once again, his digital canvas was blank.

Louis knew exactly what to say to that. "Anything worth doing is hard."

Kai laughed and then groaned. "Ahaha, gross."

Legosi's ear flicked. "Why do you say that? He's right."

Louis nodded. "Like our relationships."

The mongoose facepalmed. "I can't believe I was the one to make the sexual joke..."

"What joke?" Louis crossed his arms.

"You said anything worth doing is hard! Like, 'doing' like sex and 'hard' like a boner! I thought you guys would get it cuz you fuck so much!"

"Not in a while..." Legosi said under his breath.

"How long has it been again?" Louis asked.

Legosi looked up. "Oh, at the...y'know..."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Uh...'at'?"

The wolf shook his head. "Forget about it."

"Oh, at the mask party. Right," Louis nodded. "Was that really the last time?"

Kai covered his ears. "WHAT? AT A PARTY?"

Legosi put a hand on his shoulder. "Pl-please quiet down. I don't want to bother Sebun-san."

"Okay, but don't drop this sort of thing out of nowhere! I thought Pina and Bill were the sex freaks here!"

Louis blinked. "I mean, many animals were doing it there."

"OH MY GOD!"

"Kai!" Legosi covered his mouth.

"Stmp mlmbrmting thm!"

The deer chuckled. "What? It normalizes it."

Legosi looked over at his husband. "Lou...don't make him explode."

"It's normal!"

"Yeah but you know how he is." Legosi still had his hand over Kai's mouth.

Louis snickered. "And I respect that, but he knows we are as well."

The mongoose grumbled, prompting Legosi to let go of his mouth. "I didn't even know shit like that was legal..."

"Um..." Legosi looked over to Louis. "I...I don't think it was?"

"It definitely wasn't," the deer answered.

"Holy fuck, you guys," Kai grumbled as he went back to work.

Louis leaned against Legosi. "I know. He's wonderful."

Legosi leaned over and kissed him on the head, and Kai sighed.

The deer curled up closer. "How many bugs do you think you'll need to draw?"

"I dunno." Legosi went back to work, sketching out a rhinoceros beetle. "Like fifteen, maybe."

"Yeah." The carnivore deleted the last few lines he drew and started over. "I need to take a picture of it when I go in tomorrow."

"How much are you planning to get done tonight?"

"Well, I got the domain name, and sort of the basic layout, but this is gonna take a few days of course." Kai looked over at Legosi's screen. "Oh, that looks nice."

"It's just a sketch," the wolf said, erasing half of it.

"So are you coming back, then?" Louis asked.

"Yeah. Why? Don't want me to?" Kai challenged, playfully.

"No. I was just curious. I suppose I could put off any...risque activities with Legosi for a few days."

"...I've still got school and stuff. I'll be coming by on the weekends."

"You hear that, Legosi? That means you have me on the weekdays."

Legosi nuzzled him in response before going back to his drawing attempts.

The deer got up after that with a hum, going back and working on finishing the drinks he was preparing.

Everyone got up to get their drinks and then went back to working and chatting idly. At around 8 PM Kai shut his laptop and Legosi followed suit.

Louis stretched and yawned. "Did you bring your nightclothes, Kai?"

"Uh, no, cuz I didn't think of staying over until later. I'll just...get in my underwear and leave my shirt on..."

"You could wear one of Louis' plain t-shirts," Legosi suggested.

The buck nodded. "I hope the next wouldn't' be too much of an issue. It's made for deer."

Kai agreed, and soon a plain white t-shirt was draped over him, the stretchy neck rolling down off his one shoulder, slightly. He looked down at himself. "Wow...it's kind of like a dress."

"One of mine would have been worse," Legosi chuckled.

"You look cute," Louis grinned "Aww."

"Yeah yeah." Kai looked away, clearly blushing as he sat down on the couch. "Dom would like it."

"I wish he could be here for you."

The smaller just nodded. "The last time we were together, uh, we slept naked together. That's the most we've ever done."

"And how was that? Comfy, right?" Louis asked.

Kai nodded. "His feathers are soft," he commented, playing with the folds in the shirt.

"You know, Pina's taking some time from Bill, too. To travel and such. I guess he's soul searching," Louis said. Someone was bound to ask about Pina, eventually.

Legosi looked at Louis with a raised eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Huh, yeah I didn't see him this week. Bill's been quiet, too." Kai curled up more on the couch.

"Quiet in a sad way or just quiet?" Louis asked.

"I dunno, but a quiet Bill is really weird."

Legosi went over to take a seat to Kai's right. "Maybe we should have him over some time? It's weird that Pina would just do that..."

"Bill?" Louis tilted his head. "Or Pina?"

"Bill. Since Pina is traveling." Legosi looked down at their seating arrangement, wondering if Louis would squeeze in next to him or sit on Kai's left side.

The deer did the former, still smiling. "That could be nice. Bill and Kai over for a movie or something. I could make dinner."

"I guess. It is kind of weird with just the three of us." Kai looked down at the folded blanket in the corner which rested next to the rolled-up futon. "Can I go get that blanket?"

"Yes," Louis nodded. "But you've been wanting to hang out anyway, right?"

"Well, yeah," the small carnivore answered as he retrieved the blanket. "You guys are cool. Sometimes I forget I hated your guts at one point."

"You hated our guts?"

Kai plopped down on the couch, draping the blanket over them all. "Well, you mostly. I made friends with Legosi pretty quickly. But you don't remember you taking me off the acting team after Tem died?"

"Yes, I remember." He blinked. "Wow...Yeah..."

Legosi nuzzled Louis' face with his own. "He's come so far..."

"I'm an entirely different person now that I'm not trying to become a Beastar. Plus, I can confidently say I eat normally now."

Kai laughed, awkwardly. "Ah, yeah. Alright, let's find something to watch."

Legosi took the controller and started browsing. "Maybe an anime?" he suggested.

"Do you like anime?" Louis asked to Kai.

The mongoose laughed. "Wow, are you sure we're friends? Of course, I do!"

"Ohhh right. Who was that?" Louis blinked, trying to remember. "Anyway, we should start a short one. We'll be able to finish it in the days you come over."

"Mm, sounds good." Kai yawned and leaned into Legosi.

It didn't take long for Legosi to pick a sci-fi anime, which Kai seemed pleased about.

Louis was actually intrigued. It seemed to be one of the more competent ones out there. The three agreed they'd keep with it.

As the episodes went on, Kai managed to wiggle into both animals' laps without them really noticing.

Louis sub-consciously started petting him at some point and no one said a word about it. It was just a moment in time they were sharing together.

It was a little after midnight when Kai stretched out and declared he was tired and would go to sleep. He went over to his bag to grab his earplugs while Legosi and Louis unfurled the futon. They let Kai have the comforter on the couch while they had the sheets on the futon.

Louis looked at his husband, expectantly. He was eager to talk about his day.

Kai laid on his side with his back to them. "Goodnight guys. I...I love you."

Louis sighed, contently. "We love you, too, Kai. Really. Come back any time."

Legosi poked his head up. "Yeah, thanks again for helping with the website!"

"It's no problem..." Kai drifted off with a yawn, leaving Legosi and Louis to find tonight's cuddling position. The buck's ever-growing antlers made each night just a bit trickier.

"So...should we talk now?" Louis asked.

Legosi looked up at Louis from where his head rested on his chest. "Yeah. I don't think he'll be able to hear us."

"Kai?" Louis tested.

There was no response. It was the first time either of them seen him so still.

"I guess that's a yes."

"So...tell me about your good day," Legosi hummed with a nuzzle.

"The truth is...Pina isn't traveling," Louis said, rubbing circles with his finger against Legosi's cheek.

His mate leaned into the touch. "Mmm, I figured. So what's going on?"

"He's...part of the Branded now."

Legosi stiffened a bit before relaxing again. "Ah, I guess it makes sense to have an ally in there. And Pina is pretty, uh, crazy, so he can play the part."

"You're not afraid?"

Legosi laughed, humorlessly. "I don't know what to feel about this anymore. I just know that it's good to have as much help as you can...so I feel better," he curled up closer to Louis.

"I wish you were there..." Louis mumbled.

The wolf chuckled more. "Now that would be interesting."

"Yeah...they'd be completely specist."

"So...now that Pina is there do you have a plan? Or are we still just collecting info for Melon-san?"

"We need to formulate a concrete plan, honestly. We haven't got to be alone yet there and texting would be way too risky."

"So, he stays there?" Legosi asked.

"He basically lives there," Louis said. "I'm going to be spending some nights with him."

"Are you two going to map the layout of the place? That's what Melon-san wanted next."

"I guess we are now. You'll be okay without me some nights, right? This could be good for our dependency issues."

"Mhm...you never did ask Zaguan-san about fixing up the condo..."

"I'm sorry. It totally slipped my mind."

"Maybe you can say you're doing something with Pina...just not what you're actually doing," Legosi suggested.

The buck nodded. "Yeah..."

"I guess...you could try to befriend as many members as you can and then see if they'd take your side rather than Ichi's? That's probably too far fetched, though."

"There's no way. They are very loyal to him. What a canine way of thinking."

"Hehehe." Legosi drew himself closer. "I know this is all dangerous, and maybe I'm just crazy, but I'm just so glad I still get to be with you...I guess since we still have some of our normal life it doesn't seem real yet..."

"Being with you was the best decision I've ever made. I have absolutely zero regrets."

"Of course! Me too." Legosi nuzzled in even closer, pushing his head up to subtly ask for pets.

The deer gladly gave them. "I just...hope he doesn't get hurt..."

"I know you'll both be careful," Legosi said with a kiss on the cheek.

"And, good news! I'll be working with San on the sidelines, so no killing for me...I think."

"For now," Legosi sighed. He reached up and traced a claw along the features of his head. "I don't want anything else hurting you up here..."

"My head?"

"Your mind," the wolf clarified.

"Oh god...you have no idea. There is so much up here."

Legosi moved his canine nose up to it and started licking.

The buck chuckled, running his hands down his back and sighing deeply. "So much."

"So...anything else happen there today?"

"Ichi was acting strangely happy. They say it's because Shichi, Pina, has returned, but I don't think so."

"Hm, well it's better than him being upset. Why do you think he's happy?"

"I'm unsure." Then, he smiled. "We predict that it's because he and Ni are together now. Probably too farfetched, though. He's a businessman."

Legosi smiled back. "I'm totally lost, but that's fine."

"Lost?"

"With who all the members are and stuff."

"Ni is the serow. I told you."

"Yeah, but it's hard to keep track of people without meeting them."

"You can't meet them, really."

"I know," the wolf giggled. "It's just kind of funny how you talk about them like they're your coworkers."

"They kind of are, no?"

"Guess so, since you're being paid."

"Exactly. It's a sick and twisted job."

"Mm, what kind of job do you want after this?"

"I'd like to pursue cooking," Louis stated with confidence.

Legosi nodded. "Of course. I'd like that, too."

"You just want to eat my food and get free meals!"

"No! It's because I know you'd be happy!"

Louis leaned down and kissed him at that.

Legosi kissed him back. "Someday...we'll both truly be happy."